I think those "show don't tell" writing rules are way overblown

Everyone in this community keeps hammering that you have to show every single emotion through actions. But I've been reading Stephen King's newer stuff and he straight up tells you how a character feels all the time, and his books still sell millions. Last week I tried following the strict show-only advice on a short story and ended up with a 3 page scene just to convey someone was sad. Has anyone else found that sticking too close to this rule actually makes your pacing drag?

2 comments

2 Comments

zara_perez6213d ago

Honestly, people act like "show don't tell" is a law carved into stone tablets or something. Stephen King practically tells you everything in his newer books and he's doing just fine. I tried following that rule super strictly once for a scene where a guy was supposed to be angry. Ended up describing him slamming doors, clenching his fists, grinding his teeth, throwing a coffee mug, and it took like five pages just to get the point across. Meanwhile King would just say "he was furious" and we move on. The pacing in my story was dead before I even got to the good part. It's a tool, not a religion.

richard_ramirez12d ago

Yeah I feel that. One time I tried to "show" a character being sad by having her stare at a wilting flower for three paragraphs and my beta reader asked if I was setting up a plant murder mystery. Sometimes you just gotta say "she was bummed" and keep it rolling, you know?